VETERANS COLUMN, NEWS

Veterans Profile, Photo: U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez, from Chicago, lifts a saltwater pump in the steam and heat shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 20, 2019. The John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of …

Veterans News and Notes: Havers to head Pritzker Museum By Jerry Field Dr. Rob Havers became President & CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in February 2019. He came to his post from his previous position as President of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia. He previously served as Executive Director …

Pritzker names Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head Veterans Affairs Governor JB Pritzker announced a new appointment to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, nominating Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head the agency. “The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs has faced numerous challenges, and it’s a priority for my administration to ensure that our …

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Marriott Lincolnshire hosts Million Dollar Quartet Marriott Lincolnshire KICKS OFF THE 2019 SEASON WITH THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL A twist of fate. An epic jam session. An electrifying musical. There’s a whole lot of shakin’...

African American History Month February The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join...

Schadenfreude returns for new show Feb. 22 in Chicago I’m super pumped to announce that Schadenfreude is coming back together on February 22nd for a new show! It’s at The Hideout, 7pm. We are celebrating...

Rochelle Distelheim Max & Bennie’s Author Night Feb. 25 Rochelle Distelheim’s first novel, “Sadie in Love,” is set in New York’s Lower East Side during the great wave of Eastern European Jewish immigration in the...

Consolidated Primary Election Feb. 26 Illinois will hold its consolidated Primary Election on February 26, 2019. Candidates running under the banner of established parties (Republican, Democrats, etc) will run in this election to win their...

Orland Trustee hosts self-defense program for women Orland Park Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich will co-host with One Light Self-Defense a free self-defense workshop for women and girls. The program is free and will address “self-defense,...

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Bob Bong on Business: First Midwest Buys Bridgeview Bank Bridgeview Bank sells to First Midwest Community bank deal valued at $145 million By Bob Bong Bridgeview Bank, a community bank founded in Bridgeview in 1971 and … Click to read more

Bob Bong on Business: Gas N Wash to open second Mokena location By Bob Bong Mokena-based Gas n Wash has announced it will open a second location in Mokena at 6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. … Click to read more

STATEWIDE NEWS

Pritzker names Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head Veterans Affairs Governor JB Pritzker announced a new appointment to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, nominating Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head the agency. “The …

BRIEFS

Sandoval, Schillerstrom, Gorman announce new jobs coming to Illinois Access to training, apprenticeships and careers within skilled construction trades offered through the Tollway’s new ConstructionWorks program Earlier this week, Senator Sandoval was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Representative Marcus Evans, Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and Executive Director Liz Gorman to …

New lottery game would benefit families of fallen police officers

New lottery game to benefit families of fallen police officers

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed a bill to create a new Illinois Lottery scratch-off game from which proceeds will fund police memorials, support for the families of officers killed or severely injured in the line of duty, and protective vest replacements for officers.

“Our police officers stand in the face of danger every day to keep us safe. We are proud to stand with them and support their families when they are faced with a devastating loss,” Rauner said. “This new ticket will help fund scholarships for their children and honor their bravery at memorial parks across the state.”

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, along with prominent police memorial funds, pushed forward House Bill 5513, which creates the police memorial instant ticket and requires that net proceeds go to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund. The funds are then to be divided equally among the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Fund, the Police Memorial Committee Fund, and the Illinois State Police Memorial Fund.

The three designated police memorial funds provide support to families of officers who have been killed or severely injured in the line of duty.

“Our police officers wake up every day and put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and security of their citizens and communities,” Durkin said. “It is our duty to help them and their families when they are catastrophically hurt protecting Illinoisans, and this legislation ensures more money will be available without relying on additional state funding.”

“No dollar amount raised could ever replace a loved one who has paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said Illinois State Police Director Leo P. Schmitz. “The funds raised by this new bill will serve as a tribute to these fallen heroes for their sacrifice, and more importantly help future generations of police officers, their families and their children.”

“We are proud to support the State of Illinois’ new scratch-off lottery ticket to benefit the families and preserve the memories of our real-life heroes who lost their lives protecting others,” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said on behalf of the Chicago Police Memorial Fund. “Nothing can replace the empty seat at the dinner table or fill the aching absence of these heroes. But we can remember their bravery, integrity and selfless service by memorializing their exceptional character through the scholarships and programs that will be assisted by this new lottery game.”

“We’re grateful to the General Assembly and Gov. Rauner for making this day possible,” said Dave Johnson, president of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee. “This fund will help the children of our fallen officers and will help preserve the Illinois Police Officers Memorial as well as support the annual police officers’ ceremony, which is held the first Thursday in May.”

The funds raised through this new scratch-off ticket will be used to build and maintain police memorials and parks, hold annual memorial commemorations, give scholarships to children of officers killed or severely injured in the line of duty, provide financial assistance to police officers and their families when a police officer is killed or injured in the line of duty, and provide financial assistance to officers to purchase or replace protective gear.

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I write about three topics, the Middle East, politics and life in general. I often take my life experiences and offer them in an entertaining way to readers, and I take on the toughest topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict and don't pull any punches about what I feel is fair. But, my priority is always about writing the good story."

His columns are archived here. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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